Tombstone epitaph., 1887-11-19
LAMAR vs SPARKS.

WASHINGTON, Nw. II--Secretary Lamar th's afternoon sent letter to Commissioner Sparks sharply ,p'yiog to communication from the tter rela t,ve to ,he a lsment of the Chicago, St. Paul, Mnn ap lii and Om ,ha rail road land grants, informing Sparks in conclusion, that either .,e or the Secre- i tary must forthwith retire from the De partment.
 The differences between Secretary La. mar and Land Commissioner Sparks which have existed for the pas, year or more, have eliminated at last in a row which must necessarily result in the re- tirement of General Sparks to the shades of private life.
 There is apparently no alternative, in ssmuch as the Secretary says the matter has been referred to the President and that the President must choose between the two.
 General Sparks is possessed of choleric and stubborn disposition, which renders him unduly sensitive to all re- straint. He has, in short, managed the affairs of the office as if he were law unto himself Secretary Lamar, at whose instance General Sparks was orig inally appointed, has borne with his Land Commissioner until exhausted patience could bear no more.
 General Sparks will no doubt leave the service without single regret. He IS man oflarge wealth and therefore inde- pendent of the emoluments of public office. It is we'll known among the Gen erals friends that he is heartily sick of the office and that he would have retired long ago but for an unwillingness that his enemies should believe that they had gotten the better of the contest
 @Ihe case in point is that wherein Sparks decided that the Omaha road had forfeited large amount of thelr granted land. Shortly after Secretary Lamar reviewed Sparks decision and reversed it, restoring the lands to the railroad company, Sparks wrote long letter to the Secretary, protesting against the re- versal. The Secretary in reply says:
 "I am fortunately able to answer i, conveniently and with rapidity, because every point submitted by Sparks ha, been the subj ct of r, consideration, hay ing been presented through the columns of the press, whose ente'prls put them in possession of these points, before was apprised that the decision ref rred to in your letter had ncurre !oul disap proval and met with your dis pt- asure ,
 The Secretary then goes on al grea length to consid r the points in his de clsion which Sparks had claimed we,s erroneous, and to show why, from hi-
 standpoint, they were correct. 'l have,
 adds he, neither the disposition 10 en,
 upon polemic discu 'sion with subor
 d,nAte nor. to eng 'ge with him in this in.
 stance in 2 2 ii ,tnrial comba ,esp ci l so in the matter in which he has receiv
 ,n> carefu ly matured in IrucIions. N
 other way can the functions of gr' d public department be successfully ex,. cuted than for the chef 10 command, an, the subordinate to obey"
 Al CT further considering V rous poin raised by Comm, sioner Sparks, the Sec retary say,:
 "I had conceived it to be my duty, a head of this department, to direct you a to wha, duties l require you to perform l had alss conceived it to be equall
 your duty, under the same obligation
 to obey my instructions, or withdra
 yourself from the duty of so dong,
 being the only way recognized under th
 laws and usages of public life, in civilz-
 countries; especially so when was my ? self but acting in direct conformity to
 recent Act of Congress which impose 7 on me the exclusive duty of causing the: grants to be adjusted. The practic
 effect of your present course is that yc
 cannot obey my orders and follow my il structions, and cooperate in my admi V istration without surrendering opinion !, which should be conscientously enter " tained with reference to vitally impo
 tant interests. It is impossible for m V in contravention of my own opinion arrived at after long and anxious stud
 to surrender them to you. Under the
 circumstances it is due to orderly al
 decorous administration of our Cover e ment, to an important public interest,
 the common cause confiled into o
 hands by the President, and to the pc VI sonal regard we should both enterta ~ tor him, that he sh all be allowed ~ choose Secretary of the Interior, WI W will conform his administration to .. opinions, or appoint a Commi sioner " Pub ic Lands who will administer |
 bureau in a harmonious spirit and co ~ cert ot action wi h the chief of the d
 p.rtment Thi, alternative shall su - mt to the President"